Oswalt Teams With Lidge Again to Get 1st Win as Phillie

In a couple of ways, it was just like old times Wednesday night at Citizens Bank Park.

Brad Lidge saved a game for Roy Oswalt–something he used to do regularly. But after a turn of events no one, no matter how crazy, would have foreseen the last time it had happened– July 28, 2007–both were wearing Phillies uniforms this time.

And the other familiar sight Wednesday was reminiscent not of the 2007 season but of the next one, when Ryan Madson teamed with Lidge as the most dominant setup-closer combo in baseball.

Oswalt held the Dodgers to five hits in seven innings, and Madson and Lidge combined to retire the last six L.A. batters – four by strikeout – to lead the Phillies to a 2-0 victory.

Sure, the win was important because it kept the Phillies 2 ½ games behind the Braves, who have pulled out two late-inning wins the past two days in Houston. But maybe even more importantly, the win made a statement a night after the Dodgers bombed Kyle Kendrick, and seemingly half the bullpen, for 15 runs.

If you want to get picky, the Phillies did leave a couple of runs on the bases, and their failure to score Wilson Valdez after his leadoff triple in the fifth inning was glaring. But the pitching took care of that. Oswalt wasn’t dominant, but he displayed steely focus when he encountered jams and got outs when he needed them most.

Raul Ibanez, meanwhile, stayed red-hot, driving in an insurance run with a sixth-inning double that extended his hitting streak to 18 games. Domonic Brown got the Phils on the board in the fourth with his legs, beating out a ground ball that would be a double play with most other major leaguers running. But with Dom gliding to first? Forget it.

As with a lot of Phillies games this season, however, there is a “but.” While hustling to second on a double that led to the Phillies’ second run, Ross Gload pulled up lame halfway between first base and second base, and he immediately left the game. Don’t be shocked tomorrow if he becomes the latest to pass through the DL turnstile, likely with a groin strain.

On the plus side, Shane Victorino homered, tripled and had three RBIs in a rehab game tonight with Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He was expected to rejoin the Phillies on Friday, but it sure looks like he’s ready now.

Now, I hope they don’t rush Shane, we can wait a couple extra days for him to be 100% healthy. If he reinjures that thing again, he could out for an extended period of time, and that’s pretty scary when we’re nearly halfway through August.

Gload’s line in July is out of this world:
.389 avg / .476 obp / .611 slg / 1.087 ops

Ditto for August:
.333 avg / .448 obp / .625 slg / 1.073 ops

We are going to miss that… that was some serious production from our temporary No.3 hitter! What’s Charlie gonna do now? Move Raul up to 3rd and let someone else bat 4th? (Remember that moving Werth up to the 4th spot didn’t work out initially)

Assume that Sweeney is going to get the majority of the time at 1st until Howard comes back. With PP re-aggravating the elbow, Dobbs will probably see more time at third (personally, would rather see Ransom there, regardless of the pitcher). Hopefully, Gload is good to go after a 15 day stint.

Vic is ready to come back, same swing whether in LV or up with the club – the ab strain may actually help his batting average – less free swinging, more concentration on contact.

I was at the game….and from where I was sitting I had a clear view of Gload as he pulled up lame. Right then, I knew it wasn’t gonna be good. There was just this collective groan from all the fans around us.

Does Greg Dobbs even realize how lucky he is?? He’s only here because of injuries!!!

Please, come into NY this weekend and annhialate the Mets. Take over Citi Field and chant whatever you wish loudly. Laugh and mock these bozos. You guys have no idea how bad it is in appropriately named Flushing.

He has only blown 4 saves in 19 opportunities (79%) which is well above the league average and only a few ticks below some of the best closers in baseball (he’s the best we’ve got and he’s not as bad as it seems) but they have to manage his outings a little better.

I can’t verify this with statistics but it seems like when he is overworked, he really struggles… gotta try to limit the times that he is allowed to pitch on back to back nights. He seems healthy now… and I dropped him from my fantasy baseball team July 31st so that means he’ll be fine from here on out (I’ve implemented a “no Phillies” rule bc I’m convinved I’m a bad luck charm).

Also worth noting… his numbers pitching with no men on base and in situations when he is able to work out of the wind up are really good… batters are hitting just .180 in those situations (only 2 HR given up). As soon as he allows someone to reach base, that’s when he runs into problems. Looking at his numbers with men on base versus no men on base (57 plate appearances with no men on and 58 with men on)… .192 BA, 3.17 SO/BB, .308 SLG%, 1 HR versus .277 BA, 1.75 SO/BB, .574 SLG%, 4 HR. That’s pretty crazy… maybe he’s tipping pitches out of the stretch. Or maybe, psychologically, he’s not able to throw his good slider because he’s so worried about the runner. Whatever the case may be, someone has to address that.

Speaking of closers… you see K-Rod was arrested for assaulting his father in law after the game at Citi Field? Talk about not getting along with your in laws…

@bfo – Do NOT say that about Ibanez & Werth. Just … do not tempt fate. Doesn’t seem smart these days, know what I mean? I’m really beginning to believe there is a curse. This is just insane. When Gload pulled up I almost cried. We just got Sweeney – what – less than a wk ago?

And I don’t even care if this sounds whiney, I’ve had it: Anyone but Dobbs! We don’t deserve that, not after everything we’ve gone through this season. Come on. I’LL PLAY. I’d be better than him!

Madson & Lidge hit the mound like the walking definitions of Purpose & Determination last night. They were actually frightening. Wonder if Dubee said something to them to make them that way? Wish they could be that way all the time. It was something to see. Boy. But knowing Lidge has that in him is what makes the way he pitches the rest of the time so disturbing. No middle of the road w/him. Everyone is allowed a meltdown once in a while. But it feels like he hasn’t been there for a season & a half.

Hang on, lets be fair.
In the month of August, Brad Lidge has made 6 appearances, 5 in save opportunities and he is a perfect 5 for 5 in saves for August. 0.00 ERA, 2 hits in 5.1 innings pitched, 0 runs, 0 walks.

Look, I’m not going to be fully aboard the Lights Out Wagon just yet but realistically, 4 blown saves out of 19 is not terrible. The 5 hrs he has given up, another story. Billy Wagner, given (rightfully so) a ton of credit for helping to keep the Braves at the top of the NL East, has 7 blown saves (28 out of 35 attempts). Wagner has given up the same number of hrs, just in twice the amount of innings pitched.

If Brad finishes out the month/year with a few more blown saves, I think we have to be grateful. His velocity is off, it looks like he might be nixing that fastball of his. But the breaking ball has been quite nasty.

I’d say we are looking in pretty damn good shape heading into the middle of August and then the month of September. Should be exciting ball!

I’m there with you, Brooks… too small of a sample to say that he’s fixed but it’s encouraging and there is nothing on the slop heap that is better than Ledge.

I laughed last night because Lidge throws a perfect 9th inning and the site was down so no one could comment… very appropriate… almost like, if a tree falls in a forest and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound?

It’s great to see Ibanez enjoying his career best 18 game hitting streak and being the most productive hitter during Phillies’ resurgence. It’s also satisfying to see Raul proved to all the impatient “critics” here (including Corey Seidman who called him a “black hole”) how wrong they were in wanting the player released a few months ago. 😉

An interesting situation is developing when Victorino returns as early as tomorrow. Will Manuel reinsert Victorino to CF and Werth returns to RF? With Gload likely to go on DL and the bench depleted by one and undermanned, will Brown being going to the bench and play sparingly? Keep in mind and if I’m correct, Manuel has an extra pitcher (Antonio Bastardo) on the roster. Will Bastardo be optioned to the minors and another utility position player called up? We will soon see.

I’d rather we send JC to the minors instead of Bastardo… we need a lefty pitcher in the pen and based on Bastardo’s outstanding stats in the minors, he could be better than JC “I walk George Sherill” Romero. Of course, Bastardo’s poor outing a few days ago sucked, but he deserves more than one shot. We’ve given JC PLENTY of opportunities to stick around, why not him?

One other scenario when Vic comes back – Ibanez has played 1st – think it is somewhere around 180 (but I could be wrong). With a righty pitcher, put Ib at 1st, Vic center, Brown Right, Werth left. Lefty pitcher, sit Brown, Sweeney at 1st, Ib back in left (or Ben Fran here and there).

I’d also prefer to have Bastardo over JC – while he had a poor outing a few days ago, his general stuff seems to be pretty good, just left a few pitches up. JC reminds of Wild Thing – can be effectively wild when his velocity is up – now that it is down in the low 90s, no one is falling for it anymore.

I pray for Brad Lidge every time he takes the mound. Pray for just one more save. I pray before every pitch. My lips humbly mouthing words of hope and charity, palms open skyward, beckoning that great Rolaids Relief Man in the sky. Show Brad the path. The true path. Let Brad become enlightened and be the best closer he can be. Let his pitches always hit the corners – and miss every bat. I pray. Yes every day I pray. Jesus saves. Let Brad save, too.

I pray for ME every time he takes the mound. I’m not a young man anymore, every time he pitches it’s like an old rerun of Sanford and Son. “This time it’s the big one Lamont. You hear that Elizabeth, I’m comin to join you honey.”

I guess most of you aren’t old enough to remember that, but if you were it might be funny/ or not.

Pretty funny – Dipsy. Ugh that bullpen. Sometimes I want to call it the Pigpen (except for Durbin & Madson).

Charlie (and later RAJ) have literally been working a human Rubik’s Cube this season. I can’t believe this amazing feat hasn’t been discussed more around sports in gen. They’re only 2 1/2 back of the Braves.

A wk ago the Mets announcers talked about the Phils. I think they began saying the only 2 teams they thought could handle this much adversity this well were the Phils & the Red Sox. Hernandez in particular called the Mets on the carpet b/c they were in a similar situation last yr & they used the injuries as an excuse to “give up.” He couldn’t see the Phillies doing that. He said with the Phillies the team attitude was then & is now completely different from teams like the Mets from the top-down. The team hangs together diff than others & it’s showing now. He said the Phils should be proud of themselves.

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing & I haven’t heard anyone say anything about it. Did anyone hear this besides me? I’m in nyc so I’m forced to watch those games on a Mets station.

Werth’s numbers – (everyone wanted to ditch him too): leading the league with 38 doubles (has lead most of the season), avg .302, obp .395., and he’s doing fine in CF (thankfully).

And Halladay & Hamels haven’t been injured either. I’m looking for positives folks. How long does a groin strain take to heal? “Day-to-day” isn’t bad, right? He could be on the DL. Ayyyy. Okay, at least Vic is back. Does anyone know – is Polanco in the game tonight?

I feel like Lefty (but I’m young). I have such fear when Lidge takes the mound. I feel as if he honestly doesn’t know how he’s going to pitch. As if it’s out of his control. That makes me feel bad for him & scared for us. My anxiety level shoots through the roof. It also makes me feel as if we should get someone we can count on.

Phan, I heard it also. I’m in the Poconos, get all the Mets, Yanks, and most of the Phils. I hate to admit it, but I really like Mets Broadcast Crew, and watch them whenever Phils are playing the Mets, or when we don’t get a televised Phils game. I really think since 2007, the Mets are almost looking for an excuse to lose, where the Phils expect to win. Charlie may not be the best strategist in the world, but he has these guys believing they will win, regardless of who is on the mound, the dl,…..
Lefty, now the S&S theme song is stuck in my head. Could be worse.
I actually think Werth is a better centerfielder than rightfielder. Maybe has to keep more focused? Brown still has some work to do out there, probably nerves as much as anything else.

The Mets should be a reality show. Reyes saying he takes plays off. Krod beating up his father in law after the game. Then staying in jail in the stadium. Santana acused of rape from years past. You cant make this stuff up.

Ledge will always be how he is. He has been good since the blow up vs the Nationals. He was great last night because he got the first batter. Thats always crucial and he doent do it enough. Also facing vetern GOOD hitters can be the issue. He is a guy that where the other teams line up is is a huge factor. I also fear him against any really good line up. But hes still here and will be. Would love to pick up a BP arm or two.

Thanks for pulling those numbers together psujoe… so the stats back up my gut in this case (the more rest he gets, the better).

Charlie has to be considered… 7/9 of his starting lineup and 3/5 of his starting rotation have been in flux throughout this season and we’re right there.

I often criticize Charlie’s in game decision making (we all do) but during his tenure, a culture of winning has been born… the expectation of winning radiates in that clubhouse and the front office. The players have a lot to do with that but Charlie has surely held up his end of the bargain to cultivate winning. He gives them the right amount of leeway to police themselves but always steps in when things are seemingly headed in the wrong direction too fast. He is loyal to his guys (often to the shegrin of the fan base) and they love playing for him because of that. By all accounts, he is a wonderful hitting coach and a likeable guy but we’ve also seen him bench players on occasion for not hustling… and he challenged Eskin to a fight (gotta love that). I’m a believer…

The rockies arent going to do anything. They are in the midst of losing a series to the Mets. They cant win enough on the road.
The Padres SP isnt even as good as believed. Latos is the only one even owned in my 12 team fantasy league. But thier bullpen is the best. The best in the league. The Rangers have a good one too. And in 2008 the Phillies had the best one in the majors. Things that make you go hmmm. But relievers have low WARs ive been told.

I thought the Rockies would be a playoff team this year, but it seems like they don’t have what it takes.

Right now 6 teams seriously competing for 4 spots.

I think the Braves without Chipper and an obviously very vulnerable Billy Wagner will have a tough time down the stretch….although you can’t count them out. But I do think the Phillies will win the East….barely.

The Padres, I feel, are for real and will win the West.

And I think the Cards win the Central. Their pitching is too good and you have to consider the “Albert Effect”.

That leaves the Braves, Reds and Giants competing for the Wild Card. I really like the Giants. But it wouldn’t shock me to see either of the other two.

Fantasy is fantasy… their pitchers have been pretty good. Clayton Richard and Jon Garland have both been pretty good (9-5, 3.83 ERA and 10-8, 3.55 ERA, respectively). Wade Leblanc has also been solid as a #5, posting a 3.51 ERA (only 6 wins to show). Their strength is in their bullpen and the way they play the game… Heath Bell, Luke Gregerson, Mike Adams, Tim Stauffer, Ernesto Frieri… if the starters can give them 5-6 innings, they have a real chance to win. They make it uncomfortable for other teams because they alway press on the basepaths (they’ve got a lot of speed) and Adrian Gonzalez is a monster. The Padres are tough… BUT… I agree that they won’t make the playoffs. Too young…

I wouldn’t count out the Rockies… they seem to make a late season push every year. They have solid pitching (Jimenez, Hammel, De La Rosa) and the best lineup in that division… it’s not even close. Their bullpen is pretty bad and they’re 8 games back but there is a lot of baseball left to be played.

The Giants are the dark horse because they have the deepest rotation in the division and some really good baseball players. Buster Posey is a STUD. They added some pieces at the deadline and they’re really making a push to win… but they’re leaning on Pat Burrell (starting every day in LF) and I’m not sure if that can end well. Aubrey Huff was leading MLB in WAR a week or so ago (you wanna know why I don’t like that stat… there ya go) and he’s gonna have to keep that up especially if Kung Fu Panda doesn’t find his stroke… he’s only hitting .270 and I don’t think that’s gonna cut it. So they need a few of these things to happen: the ageless Huff has to keep hitting .300+; Pat Burrell has to stay in his groove; all-world rookie, Buster Posey, needs to carry them in his first pennant race; Sandoval has to hit .400+ down the stretch. I don’t know if it’s going to happen.

Your talking about the Rockies making a late season push…How have they been lately? Not very good, expecially losing 2 of 3 was from the Mutts? Even the one game they won yesterday was a come from behind because of a Grand Slam. Wonder what they would do against a good team?